What
the best home gym has

Versatility.Any home gym you buy
should have at least a full-body range of strength exercises to work the arms,
legs, abdomen and chest. Others can convert to rowing machines to offer a
cardio workout as well.

Expansion capabilities.It's great to start
with lighter weights, especially if you're a beginner, but a good home gym will
grow with you, giving you the ability to add weight or resistance as you get
stronger.

Adjustability. If you have
more than one family member using the home gym, especially if there's a
large size difference between users, be sure you can adjust the machine to
fit various body types and sizes.

Easy
exercise changes. On some models, you have to disconnect and
reconnect cables to switch from one exercise to another, but it should be
very easy to do so it doesn't interrupt your workout for long.

Good
assembly instructions.With the
exception of glideboards, which come partially assembled, putting together
a home gym can be quite a project. However, clear assembly instructions
will make the job easier.

A
sturdy build. Home gyms have to lift and hold heavy weights and lift and hold your body.
They should remain extremely stable while doing so.

Available
add-ons. Many of the top home gym manufactures have options for adding additional
"stations" to some home gyms to add an even greater variety of
exercises. However, this adds to the overall price and, sometimes, to the
home gym's footprint.

A
detachable bench. This allows you to use the bench independently, as
a weight bench for free weights or other exercises.

A
good warranty. Home gyms are made up of many moving parts, and the fact that they are
constantly under stress when they're being used means they're subject to
wear and tear. However, they should be durable enough to hold up well
under those demands and the manufacturer should be confident enough in
their product to offer an appropriate warranty.

Know
before you go

How much space do you
have? Although
some home gyms fold to reduce their footprint (and some glideboard models can
fold to store under the bed), they're usually going to stay put after assembly.
We also recommend that you measure -- and not just estimate -- your workout
space so that you know exactly how much space you have to work with. And
remember, it's not enough to account for the home gym's footprint; you also
need to allow extra room for any moving parts and your body. Don't forget to
measure for height, too.

What types of exercises do you want to do? If you
just want to do strength training, almost any home gym will do just fine. If
you'd like the whole package -- cardio and strength -- look for a machine that
converts to a rower.

How much resistance do
you need? Keep in mind that as you continue lifting weights, you're going to get stronger
and need even more resistance to challenge yourself. So use your current
maximum as a starting point, not the end point. A weight stack of 150 pounds
might be enough for a light exerciser, but dedicated users will want more.

How many people are
going to use the gym at once? If you and a workout partner want to
exercise at the same time, you'll want a gym with separate stations and
separate resistance mechanisms. These tend to be very pricey, but often feature
a commercial-quality build.

Do you want to assemble it yourself? We've included
estimates of how long it takes to assemble each home gym. Assign a dollar value
to your time, do the math and then consider this: Would the time, money, and
frustration saved be worth hiring someone else to assemble your home gym for
you? Most retailers offer packages that, for a few hundred dollars more,
include delivery and set up.

Can you try it out first? Home gyms are big and expensive, and can become the world's largest
towel hanger very quickly if they aren't a good fit. We strongly recommended
trying one out at a fitness or sporting goods store before buying.

Elsewhere in this
Report:

Best Reviewed Home Gyms: Home
gyms are a versatile choice for all-over fitness. The best offer a full-body
workout in about 30 minutes and will last through many workouts. These top
choices come at a range of price points.

Best Home Gyms: Think
you can't afford a home gym? Think again! There are plenty of top-quality home
gyms to suit any budget.

Best Compact Home Gyms: These
home gyms may be small, but reviews say they offer big versatility and value.
They also get great reviews for durability. We recommend some flooring options
for your exercise equipment as well.

Our Sources: These
are the expert and user sources we consulted to find the best home gyms. They
are listed in order from most helpful to least.

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